Chapter 16: The Maritime Revolution, to 1550

The following questions roughly outline Chapter 16 from your textbook. Each question is directly linked to other questions. You must be able to discuss all the information presented in your chapter—NOT just what is on the study guide—within the AP concepts that we discuss in class.

Be aware that while the questions are basically “in order,” there is overlapping information. Some later sections may deal with previous questions.

Global Maritime Expansion Before 1450

The Pacific Ocean (KC: 2.3; 4.1.3e)

  1. Explain why “the voyages of Polynesian peoples over vast distances across the Pacific Ocean were some of the most impressive feats in maritime history before 1450”.
  2. Using Map 16.1, trace the colonization of the eastern Pacific dating from 400 CE to 1300 CE.
  3. What evidence is there that the Polynesians have originated from Malaysa?

The Indian Ocean

  1. What settlement activity makes Madagascar “unique”?
  2. What makes Indian Ocean sailing easier than any other area? (KC 3.1.1a)
  3. Give examples of how medieval Islam gave the Indian Ocean trade a boost.
  4. Summarize Zheng He’s Expeditions in the Indian Ocean between 1405 and 1433 (purpose, means, results) (KC 4.1.3a)
  1. Using the drawing “Chinese junk” on p. 464: How does the Chinese treasure ship compare to the European caravel in its efficiency? (KC 4.1.2)

The Atlantic Ocean

  1. How were the Viking mariners in the North Atlantic similar to their Pacific counterparts?
  2. What areas were colonized by Vikings in the North Atlantic? Why were these areas later abandoned?
  3. What resulted from the African voyages in the 14th century commissioned by Mansa Muhammad?
  4. Using map 16.2 describe Amerindian maritime activity into the early 16th century.

European Expansion 1450-1550

  1. How did expeditions of the Iberian kingdoms “begin a maritime revolution that profoundly altered the course of world history”?

Motives for Exploration

  1. Why did the Iberian kingdoms sponsor voyages of exploration I the 15th century?
  2. How did the centuries of warfare with Muslim kingdoms give the Iberian kingdoms an edge over the Italians?

Portuguese Voyages (KC: 4.1.3b)

  1. How did the capture of Ceuta in 1415 give the Portuguese a lead in the Age of Exploration?
  2. What was the curriculum of Prince Henry’s School of Navigation? What improvements to navigation did the student-explorers make?
  3. As a result of Prince Henry’s efforts what forms of trade did Portugal enter into? Which proved to be the most profitable?
  4. Identify the importance of the following Portuguese explorers:

●Fernao Gomes

●Bartolemeu Dias

●Vasco da Gama

●Pedro Cabral

Environment + Technology: Vasco da Gama’s Fleet

  1. Describe how the Portuguese ensured that the ships in da Gama’s fleet would make it to India and back.

Spanish voyages (KC: 4.1.3c)

  1. What delayed Spain’s entrance into the Age of Discovery?
  2. Describe Columbus’s journey west.
  3. Why was the New World named for Amerigo Vespucci instead of Columbus?
  4. What was the agreement between Spain and Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas?
  5. Describe Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe as well as its importance.
  6. Why were the consequences of Columbus’s voyages momentous for European expansion?

Encounters with Europe, 1450-1550 (KC 4.3.2a, c)

  1. Why were Europeans more successful in colonizing the New World compared to Africa or Asia in the 15-16th centuries?

Western Africa

  1. Why were West Africans eager to open up commercial relations with Portugal?
  2. How did the Africans keep an upper hand over Portugal, at least early on?
  3. Discuss the commercial relationship between the Portuguese and Benin.
  4. What was the African reaction to guns, the demand for slaves, and Christianity/Catholicism? Compare Benin’s reaction to Kongo’s.

Eastern Africa

  1. What was the Muslim reaction to Portuguese encroachment on their trade centers along the Swahili Coast?
  2. Discuss the unique relationship shared between Ethiopia and Portugal.

Indian Ocean States

  1. What was the initial reaction to da Gama’s attempts to open trade with the Indian states?
  2. What advantage did Portugal have in making the Indian Ocean a Portuguese sea? Results?
  3. How did the Portuguese maintain a commercial monopoly in the Indian Ocean—stretching to Macao?
  4. Why did the Mughals and Chinese ignore the Portuguese? Why did the Ottomans resist?
  5. Why did Portugal have little impact on the mainland of Africa and Asia?

Diversity + Dominance: Kongo’s Christian King

Read Afonso’s letters and answer the questions for analysis on p. 477

  1. What sorts of things does King Afonso desire from the Portuguese?
  2. What is he willing to do/not do in return?
  3. What problem with his own people has the slave trade created, and what has King Afonso done about it?
  4. Does King Afonso see himself as an equal to King John or his subordinate? Do you agree with that analysis?

The Americas (KC: 4.1.5a)

  1. How did the Spanish influence on the Americas differ from Portugal’s influence on Africa and Asia?
  2. Describe the conquests of the Aztecs by Cortez and the Inca by Pizarro. What enabled these smaller forces to conquer the larger empires?

Issues in World History—Climate and Population to 1500 (KC: 3.1.4b) pp. 486-487

  1. How did climate and disease affect the population of Europe and Asia during the period from 1100-1500?

Bulliet, 4th Ed. The Earth and Its Peoples

Prepared by Pamela Hammond, Brantley County High School, Nahunta, GA